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Malacañang suspended operations from private companies in Metro Manila and 9 other provinces due to severe rainfall and flooding.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. announced earlier that the suspension of operations in private sectors will be effective in provinces such as Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and NCR.
Initially, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte also announced Ochoa’s signing of Memorandum Circular number 33 in which it cancels work from government offices and college classes in affected areas.
Valte also added that the decision on cancelling the classes and office works was adviced by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Despite the suspension of office work, health offices will continue their operation to help the flood victims.
“Executive Secretary issued Memorandum Circular 33 which approved the PAGASA recommendation to suspend work in government offices and classes in college due to inclement weather in the following areas: NCR, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan. The directive does not cover, however, agencies that render “vital public services” and “whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities.”
Due to the calamity, businesses and banks are also affected and were also shut-down today. Even the operations from the Philippine Stock Exchange and Central Bank of the Philippines are temporarily cancelled today. Court hearings and offices from the Supreme Court and other courts are also suspended due to the bad weather.
Meanwhile, Valte also cited two conditions for continuous operations of private sectors.
”They must be able to guarantee the safety of their employees both going to and from work, and they would have pay extra according to labor laws.”
Valte apparently told workers via her Twitter account to report companies disobeying the standards of the Labor Department.
